Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-03-21
A NEW PROCESS
WHICH IL EXPECTED TO EARN
MILLIONS FOR ITS OWNERS.
The Potter Process for Working Dry
or Refractory" Ores-A Company
Which Is Doing Some Unnecessary
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Prospecting-Ete.
Minneapolis, MIMI, has something
which is all its own, and which is en-
pected to make the everlasting for
tune Of all who invest in it. 1t is a
new smelling process that is expected
to work revolution in the reduction
of dry or refractory ores. This pro-
cess was invented by a Chicago
mechanic named James A. Potter,
and is patented, but the inventor has
signed bond by which he agrees to
assign all rights under his patent to
Charles E. Baldwin, of Minneapolis,
and w. D. Pinkston, OF Shoshone,
Idaho, on the following conditions:
Within four months they are to organ
ize company with capital stock of
$5OO,OO0, one-fourth paid up. The
first plant is to be begun within that
period, under the superintendent of
Potter, who is to own fourth in
terest in this parent company. When
this establishment is in successful
operation, and reducing dry or refrac-
tory ore at cost not exceeding $40
per ton, Potter is to get 10000 cash,
and for every subsequent furnace
placed in successful operation, in the
same way, he is to receive $4,000
cash. The company has been organ
lied in Minneapolis, with the follow
ing officers:
President-T. G.. Merrill, of Hell
ena, Montana.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY. d. Pinkston,
of Shoshone, Idaho.
Secretary-Charles E. Baldwin, of
Minneapolis.
Treasurer-John West, of Mime
apolis.
Mr.. Merrill is an assayer and a
deputy mineral surveyor. s-
A marked copy of the St. Paul
Globe, which was sent to the TIMES
with the compliments Of the Potter
Mining, Smelling and Refining Com
pany of Minneapolis, supplies all the
above information; and the Globe
states that many of the heavy capital
lists of Minneapolis and of Montana
are anxious to buy stock in the new
company.
DETAILS OF THE PROCESS.
The Potter process can be applies
to any smelling furnace. On either
side of the base of the furnace are two
tanks or reservoirs, which contain
molten lead. The furnace stack is
tapped just above these tanks and the
mixture of precious and base metals
floats over the lead. AS the lead
unites with the precious metals below
a shower bath of molten lead is thrown
from above, making the union more
perfect. This molten alloy Of lead
and precious metals is used for the
shower bath over aud over again, by
means of force pumps, while the base
metals are foated off. When the
lead has taken up all the gold it will
con tain, it is very rich, indeed, ton
being worth $4,000 to $4,000. This
is the advantage of the process. No
matter what the condition of the ores,
whether rich or low grade, dry or re-
fraetory, the operation is the same,
and the same result is reached. And
instead Of shipping away (as at pres
ent) an alloy worth $3.50 a ton, the
base bullion is worth 10000!
!. The value of the Potter process
says the Globe, is two-fold: First, in
saving the expense of freight on base
bullion and in getting lead; second
, the large saving in getting the add
tional percentage OF the preciou:
+ metal locked up in the ores. If, TO
} instance, ore should assay 500 to tt;
, ton, not more than 70 per cent. ii
| saved in smelling by the old process
: while for the Potter process is elaine,
5 a saving of at least IS per cent.
r COMMENTS.
I 1.-THE Globe was misinformed as +
s the percentage of loss in the presen
process of smelling. Ore-purchaser
: for smelling purposes buy on tn
basis of 80 per cent. of the lead an
95 per cent. of the silver containe
in the ores. That lie to say, if or
;. carries, say, 100 pounds Of lead an
y 100 ounces of silver per ton, the selle
gets paid for 80 pounds of lea
and az ounces of silver. less til